SPECTRA

Modern Eden Gallery is pleased to announce “Spectra”, an exciting solo exhibition of new oil paintings by San Francisco artist, John Wentz. In his third solo exhibition, Wentz continues to explore his interest in the human condition, focusing on the role that war and self-destruction play in our experience as human beings.

Stark landscapes and dilapidated carnival structures serve as backdrops to Wentz’ hauntingly beautiful paintings. Among these landscapes, figures wander and gaze in gas masks, interacting with this changing world around them. The gas mask appears throughout the imagery in this new series, symbolizing the fear of the unseen and unknown. Like many potent symbols in the work, it represents the will to survive amid the dehumanizing effects of war. The moody dystopian atmospheres are punctuated by subtle color shifts and a variety of paint applications varying from meticulous rendering, to loose, abstract expressionist strokes, describing figures and places like a visual shorthand.

John Wentz was born and raised in the San Francisco the Bay Area. His interest in art began at the age of 6 when he first discovered Batman and Spiderman comic books. After years of copying comics panel by panel he worked in the commercial arts as a muralist, billboard creator and freelance illustrator. After learning to paint by doing airbrushed billboards, John decided to pursue Fine Art and work in oils. Since then, he has had 3 solo exhibitions in San Francisco and numerous group exhibitions both nationally and internationally. His works have appeared in many publications and have won multiple awards. John now paints full time in his studio in Vallejo, CA.